Impbovemeit in tables



@atten tatr's 'gatrnt @fitta Leners Parent No. 80,4289, dated Jury 2s, 186s.

l IMPROVEMENT IN TABLES, BENCHES, dto.

@In Stimuli intimi itin ilgrst tettcrs rtnit mit mating ritt at tigt suma TO ALL WHOMdTlWAYCONCERN. I p,

Bc it known that ll,V DAVID S. LEAVITT, ot Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent, and `State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Portable Tables, enches,4Platforms, Cha-irs, &c.; and I do hereby declare thatthe following isa full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had t0 the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is Va perspective view cfa table or bench, showing dove tail fastening attached thereto, and the manner of securing legs to fastening byA wedges.

Figure 2 is a view of the under side of table,sh0wing dove-tail fastenings arranged transversely thereon. l i

Figure 3 is an edge view of table, showing end view oi" dove-tail fastenings, as Aarranged in iig. 2.

Like letters in thediifcrentviews of the drawings indicate like parts. A

Myl invention relates .to an improved device to be employed in the constructionl of tables, trestles, horses, supports, benches, chairs, scaiolds, staging, and platforms, whereby the same are rendered portable, and of easy adaptation to various purposes. f t f v l It consists in constructing what is known as the top, platform, or scat of the device, in a. manner` similar to that which is usually obtained in the construction of devices ofthe character aforesaid, 'but having screwed, or otherwise rigidly fastened to the bottom of the seat or platforrmtwoA narrow longitudinal pieces, which are bevelled to such an angle as to furnish, in conjunction with the legs or supports ofthe device, a suitable socket or groove for the insertion of adjustable wedges, which latter hold the legs or supports rigidly in position, bnt which can be easily withdrawn, when desired; and in the method of constructing and hinging the legs together, in strengthening the device with hooked rods and staples, and in a dovetailshaped device, wherein tozfasten the legs or supports of the extension-platform; and also in the wedged-shaped groove, located in the under or lower side of one end of the table, for the reception of the dovet-ail-shaped -device for fastening the legs or supports ofthe extension-table when`it is desirable to remove the same from the top ot' the hed or platform.

' To enable an'y one 'skilled in the art to malte and use myinvention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A represents two pieces, fastened rigidly and longitudinally `to the bottom or under side 'of .theseat or platform, which pieces are laterally of angular shape, and flare upwardly and outwardly towards the exterior` of the table, a distance the thickness of the piece, whereby is formed a suitable wedged-shaped groove or receptacle for the legs or supports of` the device. VThe wedges being placed between thc.legs or supports, they are thereby pressed'rmly against the said pieces, which legs or supports are so shaped, at that portion thereof which comes in contact 'with the longitudinal pieces aforesaid, as to\co'rrespond thereto and nicely lit the same.

B represents an extension-receptncle, for the legs or supports of an extension-platform, which is rigidly screwed or otherwise fastened to the top of the bed or seat, thc legsor supports being held in position by a. wedge, as aforesaid, which extension-receptacle is designed for thc purpose of elevating therefrom a platform, when desirable. When this receptacle-is not being used for the .purpose aforesaid, it is slid into a suitable wedge-shaped groove formed for that` purpose in the lower part of the top or'bed of the device, and screwed thereto; the interior width of this wedgedshapcd groove being the same asfthat of the longitudinal groove which secures the legs or supports ofthe platform or table, and the exterior width exactly corresponding to that of lthe socket or wedge-shapedgroove formed in the bed ofthe table or platform for its reception.

C represents the hinged legs or supports of the seat or platform, which` are located at eitherend of-the device. About midway of the length oi' the legs or supports,`one ofthe two pieces, which go to form thc aforesaid legs or supports, hasrformedV therein a slit or opening, by cutting out a piece therefrom, extending from about the middle thereof to the end of thesame, through which projects crosswise one of the two pieces comprising each leg, which legs are hinged together immediately beneath the point where they intersect, and are crossed. 'These legs or supports are also provided with horizontal apertures, which extend alike through 'cach` piece at the point of their intersection, into which pins are inserted, whendesirable, either to hold the parts more rigidly and securely together, or to the exclusion of the Wedges as theonly method of holding said parts together. These legs or supports are bevelled at the upper part thereof to an angle corresponding to that of the grooved-wedge receptacle, and are thereby exactly tted therein.

D represents the hooks, as aforesaid, which are securedto the bottom of the table by staples, which hook into similar staples in the legs or supports, at a point intermediate between the extremities thereof.

In the construction of such devices as work-benches or large platforms, the' pieces'which form the wedgeshapedreceptacles, or what may be 'properly called dove-tailed fastenings for the legs or supports', may, instead of being secured longitudinally to the bed or seat of the device, as above described, be secured to said bed or seat at either end thereof transversely, and fastened therein in the same manner as when they are fastened to the bed o1' seat of the device in 'a longitudinal position, as is shown in Eg. 2. y

It will ne observed that this dove-tail fastening for the legs is susceptible of being so modified in form ofcon struction and arrangement as to render it readily adaptable for the various purposes herein mentioned,and thus be of peculiar advantage to those desiring a p'iortable household oryard-article, which will be found to be very convenient and useful, and for such purposes as picking fruit, grapes, trimming vines, &c., extremely desirable. l v

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- I Thecombination of the' dove-tail fastening B, hinged legs C, wedges or pins, and rods, when applied and used in the manner and for the purposesl shown and described.

As evidence that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

` vDAVID s. LEAVITT.

Witnesses MATTIE LEAvrrr, S'HELDON LEM/rrr` 

